Consulting Curator of African Art (Contract Position)
Job Title: Consulting Curator of African Art
Department: Curatorial Affairs
Reports to: Senior Director of Collections and Curatorial Affairs
Employment Status: Temporary Contract Position (part-time)
Since our founding in 1901, the Toledo Museum of Art has earned a global reputation for the quality of our collection, our innovative and extensive education programs, and our architecturally significant campus.
Thanks to the benevolence of its founders, as well as the continued support of its members, TMA remains a privately endowed, non-profit institution and opens its collection to the public, free of charge.
SUMMARY
The Toledo Museum of Art seeks a dynamic Consulting Curator of African Art to oversee the Museum’s important collection of African objects. The Museum is strongly committed to a curatorial program that blends scholarship and connoisseurship with equity and inclusion in paradigm-shifting ways for the twenty-first century Museum. TMA believes that African art is a central component of an accurate and inclusive global art history.
The Consulting Curator of African Art will assess the Museum’s existing collection and identify gaps that align with the Museum’s overall collections development policy. The candidate will support the Museum’s ambitious program of exhibitions and assist in developing gallery displays and presentations. The role is best suited to a candidate with deep experience with museums, a strong network in the world of African art, and a generalist’s breadth of knowledge for African cultures that extend throughout the entire continent.
The candidate seeks to include a diverse array of narratives and perspectives; engages African art with topics of interest in the 21st century; actively seeks to engage the Museum with new national and international stakeholders; is energized by involvement with and cultivation of the community of Toledo; is eager to take on a public-facing role when in Toledo; is innovative, reliable, communicates well with others and is deadline driven.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Works to support the Museum’s ambitious program of African Art exhibitions and innovative gallery displays and presentations.
- Conducts quality art historical research primarily focused on the permanent collection, exhibitions, and artist projects.
- Provides project management support for African Art curatorial projects.
- Engages relevant donors and collectors with the Museum and its African Art collection.
- Liaises with other Museum departments as needed to communicate updates and key information about curatorial projects in an as needed and timely manner.
- Provides tours of the collection and speaks with visitors, donors and Museum support groups about curatorial initiatives and activities as needed.
- Performs other duties as assigned or required.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Master’s degree in African art history, African Studies or related field.
- Consideration is given for a Ph.D. or related experience.
- Experience working in a museum and a proven track record of realizing complex projects.
RELATIONSHIPS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
Reports to the Senior Director of Collections and Curatorial Affairs and works collaboratively across all departments.
The Consulting Curator of African Art need not relocate to Toledo but will be expected to be in Toledo no less than semi-annually and no more than quarterly for one week at a time. Additional meetings on a virtual platform may also be required.
The Consulting Curator of African Art frequently communicates with public membership and staff who have inquiries and must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. Requires regular use of phone and computer. This person may attend events inside and outside of TMA, including evenings and weekends with occasional overnight travel.
Apply at:
https://www.toledomuseum.org/jobs-internships
The Toledo Museum of Art provides equal opportunity for employment and promotion to all qualified employees and applicants. No person shall be discriminated against in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal or state statutes. The Museum is committed to maintaining an environment in which all employees are treated equitably and given the opportunity to achieve their full potential in the workplace. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Human Resources at jobs@toledomuseum.org or (567)-666-0387.